On my last post about my extra early tomatoes, a commenter asked if I was happy with the tomato cages in the photo. They were just the average four ring "cages" that you can buy at most garden centers, hardware stores and even grocery stores.
Well, since the cage on the left just fell over, the answer is NO!
At least my curtain rod stake (gardeners will use anything) kept the cage from falling all the way to the ground.
I was able to repair the problem by securing some other collapsible tomato cages to the outside of the flimsy cages.
Now that these early girl tomato plants are upright again, they are over four feet tall!
I have about 40 more tomato plants that are still small. They will all need some kind of support as well. The store bought cages WILL work for some varieties if they are bush type or determinate. The indeterminate tomatoes need something better. My favorite methods are the "Florida Stake and Weave", "Topless Tables" and my own special "tomato trellis". I will write about all of these more as the season goes on. I wrote a post last year about my tomato trellis and topless tables if you want to know more about them.
As for now, I'm just glad that my extra-early tomatoes are still growing. My goal is still to have ripe ones by my birthday on June 24th. That date is coming up soon. Here is what the tomatoes look like right now:
Do you think they will make it in time?
If so, maybe I could claim to have a green thumb after all!
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Hello Marc,
thank you for answering my question regarding those tomato cages. I must say DO IT YOURSELF method works best for me in most cases. I love to hear this kind of attitude: ˝..(gardeners will use anything)..˝!
After all, it´s all about making our plants happier and healthier.
Italman
Posted by: June 11, 2007 at 12:35 AM
oh i'm so jealous! my tomato is maybe 2 feet tall and it has three contenders. it doesn't even need a cage. i'm going to print these pictures to hang in front of it for inspiration!
Posted by: June 11, 2007 at 09:20 PM
This post has been removed by a blog administrator.
Posted by: Anonymous | June 12, 2007 at 12:14 AM
Necessity is the mother of invention, they say! I'm jealous, too! They're going to taste sooooooooo good! Post another photo of a basket of ripe ones, please!
Posted by: June 13, 2007 at 06:04 AM
Are you sure that you have the cage on properly. Its looks to me like you have the small end at the bottom and the the big end at the bottom. Would the cage be more stable with the big end at the bottom and the small end at the top. The bigger end could be secured to the ground with pieces of wire formed into a "U" shape and pushed into the ground. I would like your option on this subject.
Posted by: Jim | May 13, 2009 at 10:33 AM